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Christian Counseling: Daily Life is Where We Will Find Our Vocation

Christian Counseling helps people discern but the reality is our vocation is right before us, in our work, play, family and service to God. If you want to become a Christian Counselor, then please review

So much time is spent in Christian Counseling hoping to discern a vocation. Should I marry or enter the religious life? With such uncertainty, counseling can offer ways to find discernment. The Ignatian model of discernment is an excellent way to discern spirits and vocations, but today, I do not want to focus on aides of discernment. Instead I would rather emphasize what we already know–that we are called to know, love, serve God and our to love our neighbor as ourself. No vocation will ever flourish unless we already lead a Christian life.

How much energy is lost over worry? Uncertainty and chaos are forces of the enemy that seeks to uproot peace and take our mind off our daily duty. Daily duty is the key of vocation. What we do on a daily basis is vocation of the present. God can see our final end. We are clearly a work in process, but our final spiritual product is not our “vocation”. Vocation is not a goal at a top of a mountain but is a continual evolving thing with various phases. So while many seek their vocation they should already have it in their daily life. As they live their vocation, it will develop and grow through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

So is our vocation complete when one becomes a priest, minister or religious, or if one marries their spouse? We may see it as final accumulation, but the reality is it has already started and will continue to progress. That moment is of no greater value in our vocation than today, as we go to work, school, or perform various acts of charity.

What we need to see is that our vocational call is not at a particular moment, but a life process. Prayer to fulfill one’s daily vocation and unlock what God wants us to do is the key. St. Teresa the Little Flower emphasized this in her teachings. She found her vocation in performing the most menial tasks because that is what the day brought. In fulfilling daily tasks, she fulfilled her vocation. The same way, our daily lives will unfold to what God wills. As finite creatures, we cannot see the overall picture and this is why we must trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us each day in fulfilling our daily vocation.